EBS STAFF
On Nov. 5, 2019, Dr. Erica Perlman celebrated the opening of Big Sky Eyes, her optometry and eyewear medical and retail business located at 99 Town Center Avenue. Today, Dr. Perlman-Henson looks back on the last four years and her passion for bringing attainable healthcare to the Big Sky community.
This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.
Explore Big Sky: Let’s start with you—when did you come to Big Sky and what brought you here?
Dr. Erica Perlman: I spent my childhood summers in the Bozeman area and fell in love with this remarkable place. I have always had a deep reverence for nature and the mountains and although I have lived in many parts of the country—from Maine to California—no place has resonated with me as deeply as southwest Montana. When my husband and I were given the opportunity to move here in 2018, we jumped at the offer.
EBS: Tell me about the beginning of Big Sky Eyes—when did it first open and what was the inspiration?
EP: I always wanted to be a doctor and have skills to tangibly help people. Owning and managing my own small business, where I could provide patients the time and medical expertise that they deserve, has enabled me to fulfill my dreams. Witnessing the increasing commercialization of health care, I want to contribute to quality, compassionate healthcare, where profits and efficiency are not placed above patient care.
I opened Big Sky Eyes in 2019, sincerely hoping that Big Sky and the surrounding communities would support a small local medical office that valued personal connection and quality medical care. I have been so thankful for all the support and kindness that I have received.
EBS: Did you feel there was a need in the community?
EP: There was, and is, a need in our community for quality healthcare. When I first opened, many community members expressed that they hadn’t been to the eye doctor in many years, if ever. Many individuals who don’t seek regular medical care, will nonetheless have annual eye exams, as good vision is essential to our daily lives. My practice is not only a place where ocular conditions are diagnosed, but many systemic diseases are also diagnosed as well, such as diabetes and hypertension. This makes my office a gateway into other forms of medical care and I work closely with the other amazing practitioners in our community.
I am also an emergency medical provider. During off-hours, I often perform procedures such as removing lodged ocular debris or treating other acute medical conditions such as corneal abrasions—scratch—or ulcers—infection. Helping people in their greatest time of need drives my passion for my profession and allows me to give back to the community that is my home.
I’ve also conducted many vision screenings for the students at the local schools; something that hadn’t been done for over a decade.
EBS: What’s the best thing about being a business owner in Big Sky?
EP: The greatest part about being a business owner in Big Sky is the community. I love that over the years many of my patients have become friends and many of my friends have become patients. Big Sky is made up of an amazing network of people with different specialties and skills that allows this community to thrive. I hope that I can make a small contribution to this remarkable community.
EBS: Tell us what services you offer the community:
EP: I provide annual comprehensive eye and contact lens exams to adults and children, as well as ocular disease management for conditions such as diabetes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. I also provide emergency medical care for ocular injuries and acute conditions and pre- and post-operative care.
My office carries a wide variety of eyewear. We carry lines that fit all budgets so that everyone in the community can benefit from vision correction. We also carry retail designer and sport sunglasses for locals and visitors and more specialized eyewear for safety and sports.
EBS: When we initially interviewed you four years ago when you opened, you said you had planned to open in Bozeman but chose Big Sky instead. Why was that, and is it a decision you’d still make today?
EP: I couldn’t be happier that I decided to open in Big Sky. At the time I was concerned that the population wasn’t large enough to support an optometric practice. But I have found overwhelming support within the community; caring for my patients keeps me quite busy! Big Sky is where I live. It’s where my friends live. It is my community. I couldn’t imagine having my business anywhere else!
EBS: What can we find you doing when you’re not working?
EP: I enjoy most of the activities that bring people to Big Sky. In the summer, backpacking, rafting and outdoor concerts take up most of my time. In the winter, I enjoy cross country skiing, curling on Friday nights, and enjoying the beautiful solitude of our snowy landscape on long walks with my dogs. I also enjoy being a very active member of the Big Sky Rotary Club, organizing the Big Sky Giving Tree, hosting foreign exchange students, being an elected director of my HOA, and a member of a Big Sky Book Club.
EBS: What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
EP: Both of my parents are optometrists and owned their own practice for many years. When I was considering going into optometry and owning my own practice, I asked my father for his advice. He explained that practicing medicine with your patients’ health and well-being as top priority, will make every day of “work” feel more like catching up with old friends. That was what made me go into this field and that is what made me move to and open my practice in Big Sky. And now I get to spend every day catching up with old friends.
